“A Merchant Snow, two of the King’s Ships-of-War, a Lugger and a Cutter all in close proximity in the Channel” by Charles Brooking (date unknown).

By Michael Schreiber

Capt. Thomas Arnold had a long career at sea that started during the American Revolution. Late in life, he opened a school in navigation. And six years before he died, Thomas wrote an important handbook on seamanship based largely on his own experiences.

Thomas’ ship fought off the British

In 1782, when he was only 13 years old, Thomas served on the privateer ship Rambler. While his ship didn’t engage the enemy during that voyage, Thomas soon found himself in harm’s way. While sailing on the fourteen-gun Revolution, two rows of galleys in the possession of British arms, tried to attack his vessel “as soon as they came within gun-shot they commenced firing … but we succeeded in beating them off,” he wrote.

Shortly after evading the British, Thomas was “on board the brig Edward Hammond, in the harbor of St. John’s, Antigua, in 1786, when she was struck by lightning; which split her masts.” Thankfully, no one on board was seriously injured.

During the next few years, Thomas traveled the world, working on different vessels and improving his seamanship skills. He quickly progressed from deck hand to able-bodied seaman to mate. 

How he helped rescue his crew and 26 passengers

As a mate, Thomas faced danger on the brig Active. Due to a navigation error, the vessel became beached on a reef near the island of St. Domingo. After six days, the crew and 26 passengers ran low on provisions. To search for rescue, Thomas and a few crew members took out the long boat. But they encountered a huge squall, with waves so high, they nearly swallowed up the boat. Smartly, Thomas took down the mast, put it overboard, and attached the mast to the boat. This move stabilized the vessel until the storm passed. The next day, a ship rescued all on board.

The following year, 1795, Thomas was appointed master of a sea vessel. This accomplishment – rising from 13-year-old deck boy to sea captain – was rare. Quite likely, his clever seamanship in saving the crew and passengers on the Active helped him get the job. 

As a ship captain, Thomas faced many adventures at sea, traveling as far as China. Later, he used his vast knowledge to begin a Nautical Academy. Thomas also wrote “The American Practical Lunarian and Seaman’s Guide,” to help mariners maneuver through storms, elude pirates and deal with customs agents and insurance brokers. 

In his final days, Thomas developed partial paralysis. He died in 1828 at age 60, and was buried at Gloria Dei Church.

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Conservation Assessment

Captain
Thomas Arnold
A native of Genoa, Italy
and
Rhoda A. M. Church
his wife, a native of
Philadelphia

Type of Marker: Headstone and footstone
Material: Marble
Issues: Biogrowth, blistering, sugaring, sunken
Comments: base buried below grade 6″
Recommended Treatment: Cleaning w/ biocide, consolidation, fill cracks/blisters, pinning and gluing, raising, removing old pins

Evaluation
Historic Integrity: Intact
Structural Integrity: Good
Material Integrity: Good
Legible Inscription: Poor
Degree of Bioturbation: 1/4 sunken

Marker Details
Inventory Number: 373
Plot Number: 32
Historic Number: 16
Cemetery Section: 6
Ledger Book Number: 16
Orientation: East
Marker Height/Length (in): 46
Marker Width (in): 22
Marker Thickness/Depth (in): 2
Footstone Height (in): 20
Footstone Width (in): 13
Footstone Thickness (in): 2